Please erase all the images in your head, erase the image of the underwater beauty. This free train trip to Koh Tao is not as beautiful as everyone intended it to be. This time, we will present another side of Koh Tao that we encountered. Don't think that taking a free train to Koh Tao will be comfortable and inexpensive. Hmm, erase that memory. Another perspective of Koh Tao for those who don't like diving, strange people like us who want to meet strangers. What will it be like? Let's see.

Despite arriving at Koh Tao feeling unwell, with a lingering cough that had persisted for months, we were determined to make the most of our trip. Having been unable to travel due to illness, we were eager to explore and relax. With limited options, we opted for a free train journey, which brought us to Koh Tao despite our persistent cough. This lingering cough also prevented us from engaging in scuba diving activities.

Being a tourist is easy, but being a traveler is more… more rewarding than you think.

As many reviews have mentioned, the free train to Koh Tao departs from Hua Lamphong Railway Station at 13:00. It is important to arrive early, as the train departs on time despite its reputation for being slow. While the free train does not guarantee a seat, passengers can obtain a seat by arriving early (05:30) to receive a ticket. However, tickets are limited, and those who arrive later may have to stand. Therefore, it is highly recommended to arrive early to secure a seat.

We continued our journey with a sweet drink in hand. The scheduled arrival time in Chumphon was 10 pm, but keep in mind that trains are often delayed. This year, we have taken the train to Chumphon about 3-4 times, and on several occasions, the arrival time has been as late as 11 pm. If we were planning to go to Koh Tao on that day, we would definitely miss the boat. So, let's have a backup plan. If we can't make it to Koh Tao, we can always explore Chumphon instead. Stay tuned for our upcoming review of local attractions in Chumphon.

Arrived in Chumphon at half past ten. Damn, the train was actually late, not just a stand-in. Almost missed it if it wasn't for the motorbike taxi. Took the ride, even though it was 100 baht. At first, I thought it was expensive, but then I realized it was quite a distance and I wouldn't have made it otherwise. The ride was fast, and I arrived just in time. Even had enough time to buy some cheap snacks from the shore to eat on the boat.

Let's board the ship. The initial conditions were frightening. Hey! It's a cargo ship. Are they going to sell us? The only thought that crossed my mind was, "How much will I be sold for?" Oh, no! What will we encounter? We're driving around. We're about to set sail into the Gulf of Thailand at night. I've never done this before. I've never slept on a boat or sailed the open sea at night. Experiences can't be bought, but they can be purchased on a boat for 400 baht. Hehe. I took the free train for a while. As soon as I got off the train, it was 500 baht.

Our bed tonight

As the ship set sail, I climbed up to the deck to enjoy the breeze. There were less than ten foreigners, all in couples, while I was alone. I sat there, drinking beer and eating snacks, feeling incredibly romantic. Hehe. I gazed at the stars, feeling the wind, and was so excited. I had never been on a ship that slept at night like this. It was incredibly thrilling. The sea was pitch black. After a while, it seemed like a storm was approaching. I held on to the railing as the ship swayed. Everyone else had gone down to their beds. I looked back and saw no one. It was drizzling. Wow... it was just like in the movies. The ship seemed like it was going to capsize. There were no life jackets. I went down to sleep, but it was full of strangers. I didn't see any Thai people at all.

Slept soundly until morning. Must be sleepy and tired from the long journey plus the drinks from last night. It's already 6 am. Looking out the window, are we here already?

Upon arrival, the reserved room was unavailable, necessitating a search for alternative accommodations. Early in the morning, no establishments were open. Exploration continued.

The Perils of Island Transportation: A Tale of Taxis, Motorbikes, and Missed Adventures

The island's taxi situation is typical: ordinary pickup trucks adorned with "TAXI" signs. Traveling with a group and negotiating a hefty price is the norm. Motorbike rentals are available, and I usually opt for them on island excursions. However, this time, the terrain appears treacherous, so I'm giving it a pass. The rental cost is negligible, but the repair expenses here for any damage are exorbitant, easily reaching thousands.

So, here I am on Koh Tao, facing a dilemma. No motorbike, no diving. What am I even doing here?

Initially, I thought I was the only one wandering around looking for my room. However, I soon realized that there were many other backpackers waiting for their rooms to open. This is the true backpacker life: being able to wait for anything and travel without knowing what lies ahead.

Stroll along the beach near the pier and soak in the surrounding atmosphere.

We came across this shop and saw a sign, so we went in and asked, "Do you have any rooms available?" (We asked politely even though we saw the sign.) The woman turned to face us, her face covered in thanaka. She didn't understand Thai, and our English wasn't very strong. We said "room for rent" and she finally understood. She then led us on a long walk around the building. As we walked, we forgot ourselves and started talking in Thai. She didn't understand and smiled, saying "I'm Burmese." We had to follow her in silence. At this point, we were exhausted and just wanted a room, even a mixed-gender dorm.

I'm so happy I found a cheap room! It's a 10-bed female dorm with air conditioning and wifi for only 350 baht per night.

I chose the bed at the end for a single person. There were four women, all Korean. I tried to make eye contact, wanting to smile and say hello, but they talked among themselves, walked in and out of the bathroom, got dressed, and looked down at their phones, ignoring me completely. As if this room belonged to them! Hey! This isn't air, you know. These are my roommates. Talk to me. I don't speak your language, but we can try to communicate. I saw one of them speaking English to the staff, but the others didn't talk at all. Or maybe this is a problem with Asians using English. They showered, got dressed, and went out, leaving one of them lying like a vegetable on the top bunk, not going anywhere.

The speaker describes a trip where they walked and walked, unable to swim due to illness. They encountered a boat driver offering a trip to Koh Nang Yuan for 700 baht, which they considered expensive for a solo traveler. While acknowledging the potential appeal for divers, the speaker ultimately decides against the trip due to their current condition.

There are a lot of dogs here. Whatever you buy to eat, they will stare at you all the time. Oh... there is a 7-Eleven here, but the prices are much higher than on the mainland. If you can carry a lot of things and are coming with a group, it would be a good idea to bring supplies from the mainland. Even eating at a roadside restaurant feels more expensive than in Bangkok.

From a different perspective, tourists can relax with their families, lie down, play in the water, and build sandcastles. They can take a break without having to plan a diving trip or drive a motorbike, just come and change the atmosphere, sit and lie down, and enjoy the sea breeze. In fact, the water near the beach is also clear, so you can go snorkeling nearby.

Let's take a break and enjoy the natural beauty of this place without exerting ourselves or going on an adventure.

However, what we dislike more is diving because we are afraid of coral. Funny, isn't it? We love going to the sea but are afraid of coral. We are trying to overcome our fear so that we can enjoy the underwater world like everyone else.

All I could do was sleep, sleep, sleep, and sleep. I even slept while sunbathing, just like the Westerners do.

Gazing aimlessly, I drifted off to sleep while lying down. Upon waking, my belongings remained missing. No one here seems to care, as I am surrounded by unfamiliar faces.

She fell into a deep sleep, feeling truly rested. In the afternoon, the weather turned hot, and she started walking. She walked to Haad Sai Ri Beach. If you've been there before, you know how brave she was not to call a taxi and walk instead. It's 2 kilometers! She walked? Well, there were no motorbikes available, and a taxi was too expensive for just one person. So she walked, exercising and enjoying the scenery along the way. For someone who loves adventure, 2 kilometers is a piece of cake.

Is this beach called Hat Sai Ri because of the sand? Wow! The water is so clear. Why didn't we come here first? Next time, I'll look for accommodation around here. It's great! There are plenty of bars, and it's more lively than the other side.

The single ladies who came alone will feel very satisfied from the moment they board the boat until they step on the island. The foreigners are so good, they are a little bit perverted, each one of them could be in a movie. They come wearing tank tops or no shirts at all. Just walking around is a pleasure, but if you look closely, you might even make some new girlfriends.

Be a man, be a man, don't be gay in body and mind (you may need to use a spell to help).

In the late afternoon, Hat Sai Ree beach is especially crowded because it's the most stunning spot on the island to watch the sunset.

The scenery is truly breathtaking, with a wonderfully relaxing atmosphere. I could easily spend hours here, completely captivated by its charm.

I walked there and walked back, exhausted from the sun. I've been lying in the sun all day, and my cough is still there. I wonder if I'll be sicker than before after this.

I returned to my room to find that all the Korean guests had left. My new roommate was a female backpacker from Iceland. The mother and daughter who had gone downstairs to the bars were gone, leaving me alone with the backpacker. My English wasn't strong enough to have a good conversation with her, and her accent was difficult to understand. She preferred to read books quietly. This is an important precaution for solo female backpackers: avoid intoxicants as much as possible, as they can be dangerous. However, a small indulgence, like the can of beer I sipped while sunbathing like today, is acceptable. My new roommate was very different from the Koreans I had met. She initiated the conversation and told me about her travels throughout Thailand with sparkling eyes. She seemed to have a deep love for travel and had visited every corner of the country, from north to south. She was on her way to Singapore and Malaysia next. The backpacker's life is truly enviable. They tell me they have money, which is no small feat. They stay in cheap accommodations but get to travel to many different places. This kind of life is the most enviable. She seemed to be a go-with-the-flow kind of person, very relaxed, and even shared her snacks with me. I actually asked her name, but I've forgotten it. It's been several months since I sat down to write this review.

Waking up to a beautiful morning, we went for a walk and played in the water.

Everything was great: the atmosphere, the foreigners, the roommates. But what I thought was a very bad day since the first day I arrived was "dropping the camera into the sea". Both the mobile phone and the digital camera fell, and there was no way to recover them. I cried a lot because there were so many rocks here that I slipped and fell. I almost cried because I could hardly take any pictures. The small digital camera is dead, and it probably can't be repaired. It cost more than a thousand baht, but I don't feel sorry for it as much as the mobile phone. I shook it a few times and it still works a little. All the pictures I posted were probably taken with this phone, and they were all taken with a Samsung mobile phone camera. I want to cry.

This trip wasn't filled with many activities, but it was a nice change of pace to be in a place where no one knows me. I wouldn't normally wear a bikini and walk around the beach, but here, no one even noticed. There were only foreigners who saw swimsuits as everyday attire. If you want to practice your language skills, this is the place to be. There were plenty of people to talk to, and I didn't hear any Thai at all. I only caught glimpses of it here and there, and then it would disappear. Most Thai people probably stay at nicer places, as the rooms here didn't seem very expensive. However, there were a lot of cheap hostels, which are probably meant for backpackers. On the way back, while waiting for the boat to shore, there weren't any Thai people around. It felt like I was on a trip abroad.

Whenever I'm feeling sluggish, I crave another trip there. I love it. There are no Thai people staring at us, but there are a lot of Burmese people, mostly workers. When I walk around, I try to avoid secluded areas and stay where people can see me. I coughed all night long, competing with my roommate, who must have gotten sick from all the traveling too. The return ferry cost 500 baht and took me straight to the shore, where I could catch a bus. The price included the ferry fare and dropped me off at the train station. Honestly, if I come back, I'll spend more time swimming and diving. This trip was more about changing my sleeping environment. I just rolled around in bed, wanting to explore but feeling too sluggish. Maybe the change of scenery will help my cough go away.

The total cost was 900 baht for the round-trip ferry (the ferry was expensive), 100 baht for the motorbike, 350 baht for the room, and around 500 baht for food and drinks on the boat. The train was free on the way there, but cost 232 baht on the way back.

After returning from Koh Tao for about 4-5 days, the incredible thing is that my cough disappeared without me realizing it. I had been coughing for months, or maybe I just needed nature, or maybe I just needed nature therapy. Whether it was mental or physical illness, it disappeared completely. I'm glad.

Every journey, especially when traveled alone, becomes a collection of cherished memories formed through encounters with diverse places and people. The journey itself holds more significance than the destination. For those who enjoy solo travel or are considering it, feel free to engage in discussions or seek further information about the numerous reviews we've shared on our page, "Traveling Solo with Lady Journey." We have many more stories to share that might inspire you to embark on your own solo adventures.

The cost may seem higher than other backpacking destinations, but you barely do anything there. You just sit, lie down, and relax. However, you get a different lifestyle that doesn't require much adventure. You come to relax, check out the guys casually, and arrive at a place where no one knows you, doesn't care about you, and doesn't judge you. You see a lot of people backpacking alone, and when you meet someone who is also alone, you talk a lot. It's a relationship that only lasts one night, but it's very meaningful. The journey is more important than the destination.

Farewell, Koh Tao. See you again soon.